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Student seeks YouTube views for scholarship

She entered the contest by submitting a video describing what she thinks makes her special. As of last week, she was in second place, and she needs as many people as possible to view it for her to win.

“I wanted to submit something different from all the other contestants,” Rodriguez said. “So I got my friends to describe me in my video.”

She found the scholarship contest through FastWeb.com, where she has entered many other contests to win scholarships. This particular scholarship offers $5,000 to the contestant who receives the most views by Aug. 31.

She applied for the scholarships not only because one of her teachers urged her to do so, but also to ease the burden upon her mother to pay for her college education.

“I don’t want her to have those worries after I graduate,” Rodriguez said.

In January, Next Step Magazine named Rodriguez “Superteen,” representing Tracy High, for her activities in high school. As her junior year ended, she was acknowledged for giving 300 hours of community service, a plus for when she applies for college. She is also a member of the California Scholarship Federation, vice president of the Key Club, and president of Tracy High’s Advancement Via Individual Determination club.

She has a few colleges in mind, such as the University of California, Davis, Irvine and San Francisco, and she plans to study nursing.